Multiculturalism

All people, regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion, language or place of birth, have equal rights economically, socially and culturally.

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

Australia's cultural plurality is a part of the nation's identity and should be recognised as such.

People have the right to celebrate and express their cultural heritage within universally accepted human rights.

All people — regardless of culture, ethnicity, religion, language, place of birth or citizenship status — should have equal rights and the right to participate equally in social, economic and cultural life.

Australia is a culturally diverse society and this should be fully reflected in Australia's social, business and political institutions.

The Australian Greens should represent the cultural diversity of Australian society in its own organisation, and in all of its policies, processes and activities, in Parliament and in the community.

Racism in all forms is unacceptable and the Australian government should combat racial and religious prejudice in all its forms.

There is diversity within each of Australia's multicultural communities.

Aims

The Australian Greens want:

Australia to be a cohesive community that respects, and is accepting of, diverse cultures and backgrounds.

All citizens and residents to have equal access to education, work and services provided by all levels of government regardless of culture, religion, language and place of birth.

All Australians to have equal opportunity for representation and inclusion at local, state and national levels of government regardless of culture, religion, language and place of birth.

To implement proven, successful models of racism- and prejudice-prevention programs, which develop a sense of belonging and connectedness.

Policy development and program implementation that is based on wide and inclusive consultation that gives voice to Australians' diverse cultural and religious backgrounds and interests.

Adequately resourced non-government refugee and migrant organisations to carry out advocacy and support work on behalf of their members and communities in Australia.

Government-run and government-funded services to be available in languages other than English, by bilingual staff where appropriate, and interpreting and translation services to be well resourced and easily accessible.

Cross-cultural training available for government staff and widely available to other organisations.

All government-funded services should be designed in a culturally intelligent manner to ensure they are respectful and respond to the needs of people of diverse cultural backgrounds.

Adequate data on cultural and linguistic diversity to be collected, published and used to improve services and programs.

To promote and adequately resource community language studies for all Australians, especially in all schools and tertiary institutions.

To extend the provision of adequate, publicly provided and readily accessible ESL (English as a Second Language) courses and improve the quality of contracted English language teaching provision.

An Australian Multiculturalism Act, to work in conjunction with an Australian Charter of Rights, which would create a framework for multiculturalism and establish clear guiding principles for Australian society to embrace cultural and religious diversity

To establish an independent and properly resourced Australian Multiculturalism Commission to protect and promote diversity, to work with human rights and anti-discrimination bodies to create cross-governmental partnerships for diversity, and to implement the Multiculturalism Act.

To introduce a Parliamentary Code for Respecting Cultural Diversity which rejects discriminatory or exclusionary statements from Parliamentarians and upholds the values of social inclusion and respect for persons regardless of culture, religion, language or place of birth.

Improved pathways for culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and communities to participate in broadcast media.

All broadcasting services to be required to report in such a way that raises awareness of Australia's diversity and prohibits misrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

To establish a properly-resourced National Diversity Centre, with specific focuses on cultural and religious diversity, to provide strategic and coordinated research into diversity in the Australian community and workforce.

A strong Racial Discrimination Act, including preservation of section 18C and proper funding for the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Changes to section 25 and 51(xxvi) of The Constitution which currently allows for discrimination based on race.

Funded strategies to address the discrimination and marginalisation faced by LGBTIQ people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

To ensure fair, transparent and non-discriminatory reviews of qualifications and skills gained overseas.

The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We acknowledge that these lands were stolen and sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.